AUSTRIANS IN FULL RETREAT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2344, 29 December 1914, Page 5

AUSTRIANS IN FULL RETREAT

DRIVEN BACK OVER THE NIDA RUSSIANS CAPTURE GUNS AND PRISONERS London, December 27. 'A' communique states: "The 'Auetrians have been driven back to the right bank of the Nida. Wβ Tepulsed an Austrian attack on the Tuc'how-Olpiny front, south-east of Tarnow. "The enemy abandoned ten quick firers, forty-three officers, and 2500 ineh. 'A thousand more men were taken prisoners during the pursuit. Biedlizta, on tho left bank of the Biala, which runs into the Wislok at Tarnow, was occupied. The Austridns are in full retreat in the Zmigrbd-Dukla district (further to the south-east). They suffered enormous losses, and 10,000 were made prisoners." RUSSIANS HOLD ON THE BZURA RIVER. London, December 27. The "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent states:— "The meandering character of the Bzura River enables the Russians to iodmmand with deadly fire every possible crossing-point. "The enemy's bringing of heavy, unwieldy guns near Skierniwicei and Rawa are an indication of some confidence in his ability to withdraw safely. He possibly relies on the early winter.to facilitate operations. The weather hitherto has been exceptionally mild."OBSTINATE BATTLES CONTINUE IN POLAND. . ' _ Pa , r ! s, December 27. A communique fitates: "The Battles on the Middle Pilica and the Lower Nida continue with great obstinacy. "The Germans have reoccupicd Mlawa." STAKED EVERYTHING ON CROSSING THE BZURA; (Hec. December 23, 0.30 p.m.) ■ . Potrdgradr December .27. The Germans seemed !6 have staked everything on crossing the Bzura .River, for division after division was sacrificed. They huilt pontoon bridge!) ' nightly, and the troons who crossed were away bg. the Russian sum, file

Russians to the south of Sochaczew allowed fifteen thousand to cross at night. A Russian array corps then closed on them on three sides. The Germans fought desperately, and the rirerbank became a shambles. Eight thousand Tvere taken prisoners, and only a remnant recrossed. The Germans brought elevon-inch guns into action at Skierniwice and Raws. AUSTRIANS INFLICT TERRIBLE CRUELTIES. (Rec. December 28, 11.40 p.m.) ' Rome, December 28. The : "Messagero" reports that the Austrians, when they reoccnpied Czerncwitz, were guilty of terrible cruelties to those who allegedly favour the Russians. Three hundred and fifty of the inhabitants were arrested, and many girls were bastinadoed publicly. The Austrian gendarmes were empowered to judgo and hung people. Thirty Rumanian and Ruthonian peasants were hanged at Ailiboch and their bodies exposed for threo days. One hundred and seventy were hanged elsewhere. [Czernowitz is the capital of the Province of Bukowiria, in Southern Galicia.] GERMAN COMMUNICATIONS THREATENED RUSSIANS HEARING THE PRUSSIAN FRONTIER. (R«o. December 29, 0.55 a.m.) Petrograd, December 28. The Russians hold the northern, bank of the Vistula northward oi Flock and ihaye established a considerable forco at Dobrzyn. They have mounted heavy guns opposite Wloclawek, bombarding the Thorn-Lowicz railway and imperilling the supply trains. The "Noyoe Vremya" says when the Germans left the trenches near Boli-. mow for a night attack, tue fire of the Russian batteries ignited a forest and tta German lines were sharply silhouetted, providing an easy mark. They ■were mown down by Russian riflemen on emerging from their trenches. Coun-ter-attacking, the Russians inflicted terrible losses. A thousand German corpses were collected; and many of the enemy taken prisoner. The Russians captured two battalions and eight macliine-guns. [Wloclawek is on the left bank of the Vistula, about 30 miles S.B. of Thorn in East Prussia, and very close to the railway running from Thorn to Lowicz. Dobrzyn is about 12 miles to the east of Wloclawek, and oh tho right bank of the Vistula.]